Spotlight-adjusting mechanism



Sept.9, 1930. R. MILLER w 1,775,436

SPOTLIGHT: ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 19. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheetv l R. MILLER Sept. 9, 1930.

SPOTLIGHT ADJUSTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 www WAX

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f1 zumal Sept. 9, 1930. I R. MILLER i 1,775,436 SPOTLIGHT ADJSTING MECHANISM l Filed Aug. 19, i927 s sheets-sheet 5 wuentoz fao Patented Sept, 9, 1930 f l i RUDOLPHFMILLER, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN srofrriiennnmusrme MEGHANISM d Application slee 'Aagust 1e, 1927. sel-imno. 214,014.

i invention relates `to a lamp -support capable" of" general use,r but particularly adapted for use on automobiles, motor v boats,

andflike vehicles.

1 B; l Tlieprincipalobjectof my invention is to 'provide "a simple and comparatively inexpensive construction whereby the lamp can beswung through angles aboutdifferent aXes and i 10 justd position as; long as desired.

f The inventien `further providesmechanism capable' of manipulation by a handlewithn,

i i i It cofnvenient` reach oA V the operator of the vehiy control movements oidrthelamp throughfcl ired {ingles} w A `further ect of my inventionis the arofa spotlight adjusting mechanisms() that'it can be controlled from within 420 aelseeutombiie, nienke, through sim- 1`3`l5e"andj`positively acting adjustingineans.' `Still'another objectof myy invention 1s the' i arrangement of a spotlight adjustingmechanism `whereloy :desired adJustmentskmay be eontiniiously made on through vertical and horizontal.faxes.` In practically all of. the spotlight adjusting mechanisms n`o`w on the" i lnarlretfthere `isprovision for an adjustment.' Ona' vertical axis, but afteradjustmentshave` also'be'enrnade to change'the position' of the.

spotlight on a vhorizontal axis Vtheoriginal vertical yaxis hasa'lso. been changed to rcmderfV oblique. Inl my constructionthe vertieal horizontal [axis remains permanently horizontal.

"'Cltlieiil objects'vand Aadvantages will loe` ap-V n 'from the following description, whereinsremferenee is made to the accompanyiiigj drawings illustrating a preferred embodime'ntA of'my invention `and wherein similar d referentie"numerals "designate similar' parts throughout the several views. .lirthe drawings:

4'5"* Figuref'l 1s Va,pelfsl'oective view of prveidspfot-light adjusting mechanism 1n po,-

` "WV Figurev 2 isa plan view thereof.

vherebythe'lampwill remain inanyadto rotatethe lamp about a veretical axis."`

y rotary. movements of vthev axis/remains" vertical `at all times, and the" Figure 3 isl Va central vertical section. through the adjusting mechanism, and showing the positions assumed when the rotation of the handle is intended to rotate the' lamp about a horizontal axis.A w y Figure l is a similar view showing theadjustingmechanism in the positions assumed when the rotation oi the handle is intended 1F igure 5 isa detail cross-se"ctional view, te( taken substantially on the line 5*5 of Figl` urer` d l d i'gures y6 and 7 are detail cross-sectional views taken substantially` on thelines- 6"-6 w and 7-7 of Figureh` 'y y i d 65;

`Figures 8, 9 and lA are detail cross-sectional views taken substantially on the lines` s s, @+9 @ed `1o-10 respectively errug;v ureS. d y y Figure l1 is airagmentary side elevation 76" showing'the manner of arranging the bevel gears in the lower portion of the supporting bracket.` g1

y `Figure `12 isa viewoitheparts shown in andftaken at substantially right angles to Figure l1, andl i i 'Figure 13 isa detail perspective view of the hollow bracket forming a casing for the A bevel gears shown in Figures l1 and 12. e

lReferring novato "the drawings, the numeral designateswan automobile `body hav.-` ing a w1ndsh1eldf6` and `corner post?` at one extremity of the windshield. Secured upon the `corner post 7 is a bracket 8 forminga l f hollow frame for thelovver4 portiolnof` myji" improved spotlight adjusting mechanism` and preierably"formed in two parts, 8L and 8" (note Figure 13) each of which may readily be formed by die-casting with a. minimum of machine operation. `A handle shaft 9" extends through an aperturein the `corner posti Vand through the hollow portion Saof the bracket 8, carrying at its rearextremitya handle 10 and adiacent its forwardextremity a gear wheel 11, which, asbest shown in Figures 3 and .comprises abevel gear 1la at itsfor.- ward face` `and a beveled clutch acell"` at its rear` face. lhegear` wheel l1` issecured for rtation upon the handle shaft 9by a key y `carried Vby the gearand litting intoan elon# 100 gated key-way 9 formed in the handle shaft, whereby longitudinal movement of the liandle shaft relatively to the gear 11 is permitted. The handle shaft 9 also carries a pair of collars 1:2 and 12, and between them is loosely mounted a multiple faced clutch member 13 (note Figures 3 and 4). The clutch member 13 is not keyed to the shaft 9 but is moved within the hollow bracket member S whenever the shaft 9 is longitudinally moved, hereinafter pointed out. rl`here are three working clutch faces on the clutch member 13, the rearmost one of which, 13, being adapted to intcrlit with a serrated clutch face cutin the reduced neck portion 8C of the hollow bracket 8 when the handle shaft 9 is in its norn'ial or retracted position; the foremost clutch face 13b eing arranged to interlit with the clutch face 11b of the gear wheel 11 when the clutch member 13 is mover to its extreme forward position by longitudinally sliding the handle shaft 97 and the intermediate clutch face 13C being arranged to slidably lit within an internal serrated clutch face 14 carried by the gear wheel 111 encircling the gear wheel 11. The teeth of the intermediate clutch face 13C are always in mesh with the teeth of the internal clutch face 14 regardless of the sliding movements of the clutch member 13 because of the longitudinal movements of the shaft 9. The gear wheel 14 is arranged to havean inner bearing on the smooth portion of the gear wheel 11 intermediate the bevel gear 11 and clutch face 11b, and an outer bearing upon the hollow bracket 8, a shoulder Sd serving to prevent rearward movement of the gear wheel 1l alon with the clutch member 13, with one of the clutch faces of which it interflts. At its forward extremity the gear wheel. 14 is provided with a bevel gear .l/UJ the teeth of which may be eut only a part way around its circumference (note Figures 3, 11 and 12 Cooperating with the partial bevel gear 141" is a gear wheel 15 formed at the lower extremity of a hollow bracket 15 arranged to rotate within the upwardly extending split collar sections 8e carried by the separable portions S and 8b of the hollow bracket S, a shoulder 15" being adapted to rest upon the upper faces of the collar portions to afford a bearing for the rotation of the bracket 15. The teeth on the gear face 15 may also extend only partially around its circumference. Above the collar 15b the bracket 15 extends at right angles to its lower portion and is hollowed to form a bearing for the stub shaft 15 carrying the lamp casing 17. The stub shaft 16 is best shown in Figures 3 and 1l, and consists of a hollow shaft carrying at its rear extremity a bevel gear 1G and adjacent its forward extremity is flattened to receive the casing bracket 18 and pass through a similarly shaped aperture in the casing 17.

rThe extreme forward tip of the hollow shaft 16 is preferably flared outwardly to exert a riveting action upon the lamp casing 17 and casing bracket 18 to insure maintenance of the lamp casing upon the shaft despite vibrations of the vehicle upon which my improved lamp adjusting mechanism is mounted. The bevel gear 16 of the stub shaft 16 meshes with the bevel gear 19 formed at the upper extremity of a hollow gear wheel 19 arranged within the lower vertical portion of the bracket 15 and terminating at its lower extremity in a bevel gear 19" meshing with the forward bevel gear 11 of the gear wheel 11 keyed upon the handle shaft 9.

rlhe wire 2() for connecting the usual bulb (not shown) arranged within the lamp casing 17 with the battery7 or other source of power, carried by the automobile or like vehicle, extends through the central aperture in the hollow shaft 16 and the central aperture in the hollow gear wheel 197 thence passes through the hollow bracket 8 and an aperture in the corner post 7 into the body 5 of the automobile, where suitable connection is made with a lead wire from the battery. A plug 21 is arranged to close the horizontal aperture in the upper part ofthe bracket 15 and carries an inwardly extending member hav-` ing an arcuate notch 22 therein for bracing the wire 2O where it turns from horizontal to vertical positions (note Figures 3 and vl).

In operation, the lamp casing 17 can be rotated about a horizontal axis by merely turning the handle 10 when in its normal or retracted position shown in Figure A coiled spring 21 is arranged in a central-hollow guide 22 carried by the end member 8b of the hollow bracket and presses upon the forward face of the handle shaft 9, which is guided for longitudinal movement' by the aperture in the guide 22. `When the handle and shaft 9 are in theirnormal retracted positions, the clutch member 13 has its rearmost clutch face 13 in mesh with the fixed clutch face upon the reduced neck portion 8 of the bracket 8 and so is held from rotation and since it is also in mesh with the internalV clutch face 14 of the gear wheel 14 through its intermediate clutch face 13c it will hold the gear v heel 14C against rotation. The gear wheel 11, however, being keyed upon the handle z raft 9 will be rotated whenever the handle shaft is rotated. The rotation of the gear wheel 11 causes the rotation of the gear wheel 19 because of the intermeshing of the forward bevel gear 11 with the lower bevel gear 19h. The rotation of the gear wheel 19 will transmit rotary movement through its upper bevel gear 19 to the hollow stub shaft 16 carrying the lamp casing 17. Accordingly the lamp casing is swung around a horizontal axis through the hollow shaft 16 accltrding to the degree of rotation of the hanc e 10.

lll)

the, lamp throughafcomplete circle on its,

"l rotary movement of the lampcaslng about: a

`horizontal axis to less'than a complete revoguide pin 24 secured 1n the forward eXtfemltY inanimate. tratada .Shaft Seis lon-f sitlidinally S11@ p forwardly 1 @Of S@SieIltally 113,116.1 Position Shown in` Figure.. 4f the Clllth member .1,3 isjalsomov'ed forwardly toi dis`` come@ .tS Tear-mest Clutch falceil from the fixedfclutch face inthereduced;neck1 portion.

Stof the bracket;` 8., andjts` foremost; nclutch i face `131,.is brought ,intoV `mesh with theclntclr m gearwheelf 11 through itftheclutch `meme-` y face. 14.@ of the. 'gear i wheeilia, the forward 15 face 11" of the gear wheel: 11; Aceordinglw.A

letatioirof the lrand-lewillg-inow turnthe ber 13,tlie intermediate clutch face 13` ofy which is still. in meshwith the' internal, clutch bevel gear 14P1`of. which meshesfwiith tjhe bevel gear; l'formed at; the lower extremity.v of the rotatable bracketfl. Therotation of the gear wheel114fwillnow causethe .rotation `of the bracket 15, and the lamp casing on ya vertical axis. 'y Should it not be desired to turn vertical axis, the number ofteeth on theinterfittingegears,.s1412-l and; 15E? v can1 be limited. to

cover` only` arpolftionI ofthe circumference vof the gear facing, 1but; ittisfto` be understood that I also contemplatemaking these gear- Y faces; complete gears .if` desired.A to eifect substantia` e casing upon a vertical axis.

I have `also shownfmeans for limiting the lly` a.complete.rotation Vof the lamp elution.' In Figures 3 and 10 are best shown a `groove 23 formed in the rear face of the casing bracket "18 and arranged to receive a ofthe bracket 15. The lamp casing .is free to turn about the bracket 15 until thepin 24 engages the extremities of the guideslot 23. To afford a resilient abutment for the casing when the ends of the guideslot 23 are reached, I preferably mount the pin 24 in the chamfered opening 25m the forward faceof the forward face of the bracket 15 with its rear- 4'5- `most portion firmly secured. The larger forward portionv ofthe chamferedslot 25 will.4

fpermit slight bending of the guide pin 24 `when contacted by the extremities of the guide slot 23, the pinl returning to its original .position by its inherent resiliency after the pressure upon` it is removed.

From the above it will benoted that the vertical Vaxis on which adjustments of the lamp casing 17 are eifected,'is permanently; e maintained as the central point about which the rotatable bracket 15 rotates. vRotation `of thelamp casing about the horizontal axis thej,horizontal` and fverticallaxes lare perma i i f nently `maintained as .originally set by. the" fixing of the adjusting means uponfthe ve-f i hicle. 5,1 v While ,it `will l Vtrated.,embodiments of myinvention herein.`

be; apparent that theillusdisclosed arelwell' calculated to adequately" fulfill the objects and` adybntagesprimarily]` f stated it is to beunderstood thatthe invention is` susceptible to variation, modification,and`

change within the spiritand` scope of the subf joinedclaims.

AWhat I claim is: e e e In ai. spotlight adjusting mechanismpa hollow bracket adapted to, be fixed upon al vehicle,va` handle sldably and rotatably,` mounted within the hollow` bracket, afgear` wheelhaving a forward `bevel gearand a'hrearll beveled clutch face keyedupon the handle, a

multiple faced clutch member loosely mountednpon the handle and having forward rear bevel clutch faces", and an". intermediate external clutclrface formed thereon, means:y carried by the handle for sliding said clutch member with the handle, a fixed bevel clutch i face upon .the hollow bracket for engageei ment with the rear bevel clutch. face. of the Clutch member, .means for normally pressing.`

the handlerearwardly .to maintain .thefcluteh ,1 member incontact with said fixedl clutch face, acaslng, means under the control :of the gear` axis, andl means runder thejcontrolj o-f the clutch member for` rotating-.the casing on a) vertical axis. l f

In a spotlight ad]usting mechanisnna] `wheel forrotating the casingon a horizontal i..

hollow bracket adapted `to be fixed uponfa.

mounted withinv1 the :hollow bracket, af gear" wheelhaving` a forwardybevel geariand'a rear; bevelediclutch facekeyed upon thehandle,-v a

multiple faced clutch member loosely;mourrted `up on the handle and having forward and@ rear bevel clutch faces, `and an intermediate external clutclfr` face formed thereon, means "vehicle, a handlefslidably .and Vrotatably. w i

member with thehandleaiiixedobevelclutch.` i

facenponV the hollow .bracket forengagement; v vithr therear bevel clutch: facey ofthe?` clutch member, means for ,normallyr pressing. the

handle rearwardly to maintain tl'ieclutch member in. contactwith saidfixed clutch-face`,;

in,y theqixed bracket andcarryingfa 'bevel' gear at ,its lower.Y extremity, connections 4betweeni the casing androtatable bracket, a `gear.wheel journaled inthe fixed bracket and cariyingvaw i i bevelgearmeshing.with the -bevel `gear of thc.- rotatable fbracket and an internal.l clutch: face engaging with;A the external 'intermediate clutchiface of the-said.. clutchmember,` where-f. when ythefhandle,` is,l slid! to ,bring` .the rear 1 bevel.' .clutchl face of the rst mentionedagear a; Casing, a rotatable hollow bracket journaled 1 IMU wheel andfthefforward: bevel olutch `f'aceofo i the clutch member into', .engagementvthe fro-4 carried by the handle for sliding'.saiduclutehmlm l tation of the handle will rotate all of said ygear wheels to revolve the rotatable bracket and casing.

3. ln spotlight adjusting mechanism, a hollow bracket adapted to be lixed upon a vehicle and i rmed ot two inter-connecting portions, a handle slidably and rotatably mounted in said bracket, a bevel gear wheel keyed upon the handle and held from horizontal movement by said bracket, said bevel gear wheel also carrying a rear bevel clutch tace, a rotatable hollow bracket journaled upon both sections of said fixed bracket, a substantially vertically arranged hollow gear wheel mounted in the rotatable bracket and having a lower bevel gear meshing with the bevel gear upon the handle and an upper bevel gear, a hollow stub shaft journaled within the hollow bra cket and having a bevel gear meshing with the upper bevel gear of said vertical gear wheel, a lamp casing fixed upon the stub shaft whereby rotation of the handle will rotate the casing about a horizontal axis regardless off the sliding movements oi' the handle, and means for revolving the lamp casing` on a vertical axis including a bevel gear carried by said rotatable bracket, a gear wheel journaled within the fixed bracket and having a bevel gear meshing with the bevel gear on the rotatable bracket and an internal clutch face, and Aa slidable clutch member mounted to rotate upon and slide with the handle and formed with a forward bevel clutch face adapted to be slid into engagement with the rear clutch face of the bevel gear Wheel keyed upon the handle and an external clutch face engaging with said internal clutch tace whereby when the forward bevel clutch tace for said clutch member is in engagement with the bevel gear keyed on the handle, rotary movement is imparted from the handle through the clutch member and said beveled gear wheels to the rotatable bracket.

4. In spotlight adjusting mechanisms, in combination with a lixed bracket adapted for attachment to a vehicle body, a hollow bracket journaled in the fixed bracket, a lamp easing, means for rotating the lamp casing on a horizontal axis, means for rotating the lamp cas'- ing on a vertical axis, and means tor limiting the rotation ofl the lamp casing on a horizontal axis to less than a complet-e revolu-V tion including a member secured upon the lamp casing and abutting the hollow rotatable bracket, said memberv having an arcuate slot in its abutting face, and a pinV fixed upon the rotatable bracket and extending beyond its abutting face into said slot.

5. In spotlight adjusting mechanisms, the combination of a fixed bracket, a hollow bracket j ournaled in the fixed bracket, a lamp casing, means for rotating the lamp casing on a horizontal axis, means for rotating the lamp casing on a vertical axis, and means for limiting the rotation of the lamp casing on a horizontal axis to less than a complete revolution including a member secured upon thelamp casing and abutting the hollow rotatable bracket, saidimember having an arcuate slot in its abutting face, and a pin iixed upon the rotatable bracket and extending beyond its abutting face into said slot, saidpin being mounted within the bracket to form a resilient abutment to cushion the engagement of the ends of said slot with the pin. l

6. In a spotlight adjusting mechanism, in combination with a selectively supportable hollow bracket, a lamp casing journaled therein, said lamp casing being provided with a resilient abutment, and means for limiting the degree of possible rotative movement'of the lamp casing, comprising a fixed element providedv with an arcuate slot in which said abutment on the lamp casing is adapted to movably engage and by the engagement of which said abutment against the ends thereof the desired limitation in the degree oi possible rotative movement of the lamp casing is eilected. `l

n witness whereof I hereunto set my hand. RUDOLPH MILLER. 

